Device for repeatedly machining adjacent workpieces

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for repeatedly machining workpieces ( 1 ), especially bar-shaped or tubular workpieces, which are located next to each other. Said device comprises a bottom part ( 2 ) for supporting the workpieces ( 1 ), a top part ( 3 ) that can be drivingly moved relative to the bottom part ( 2 ) in order to mount the workpiece on the bottom part ( 2 ), and a tool support ( 24 ) for receiving several tools. In order to be able to universally use the device, the tool support ( 24 ) is equipped with a support plate ( 29 ) which can be drivingly displaced relative to the bottom part ( 2 ) and encompasses several tool receptacles ( 30 ) for axial tools ( 25 ), said tool receptacles ( 30 ) being arranged next to and underneath each other. A drive unit ( 26 ) is allocated to the tool support ( 24 ) in order to actuate the axial tools ( 25 ).

The invention relates to a device for repeatedly machining severalworkpieces arranged one next to the other, in particular, bar-shaped ortubular workpieces, according to the preamble of claim 1.

With such a device, several workpieces to be machined can be, e.g.,bent, punched, perforated, enlarged, provided with threads and screws,flattened, and also tested. Such processes are typically performed inseparate final processing machines and connected presses. Formass-produced parts, these are combined in large-scale transferinstallations, wherein then only one work process is performed for eachfinal processing station. For all of the other processes andinspections, a single processing device is then used. Therefore,relatively large and complicated installations are produced. Incontrast, for small-batch and medium-batch production, as a rule, finalprocessing stations with a workpiece clamp and an axial revolver areused for the axial tools. Here, however, because the processes areperformed one after the other, a relatively long cycle time is produced.Such processing devices are therefore not economical for larger batches.

The problem of the invention is to devise a device for repeatedmachining of the type named above, which can be used economically forboth smaller batches and large batches.

This problem is solved by a device with the features of claim 1.Preferred refinements and advantageous embodiments of the invention arethe subject matter of the subordinate claims.

For the device according to the invention, several workpieces arrangedone next to the other are clamped between a bottom part and a top part,which can move centrally and which is constructed, e.g., as a pressslide. The device contains a tool support, which contains a supportplate that can move relative to the bottom part and which has severaltool receptacles arranged one next to the other and one above the otherfor axial tools. A drive for actuating the axial tools is furtherallocated to the tool support. In this way, arbitrary processes can beperformed at the same time on several processing stations and/or oneafter the other through axial tools lying one above the other. Thusthere is the possibility of combining parallel and successive productionsteps arbitrarily. In this way, a combination of the advantages oflarge-batch and small-batch production installations is possible.Through the simple displacement of the support plate constructed like atool register, the workpieces can also be processed at the individualprocessing stations without complicated tool exchange in several steps.

In an especially preferred construction of the invention, the top partis guided so that it can move vertically by means of two side cheeksconnected rigidly to the top part on two side parts of a frame. The sidecheeks extend essentially across the entire height of the side parts andare guided across their entire or nearly entire length. This allows anespecially stable and exact guidance of the top part.

The support plate can also be easily adapted to different requirementsthrough expansion. It can be constructed, e.g., in one piece or fromseveral segments that can also move separately. The device according tothe invention also has an extremely compact and simple construction,which allows high production rates.

The drive for actuating the axial tools is advantageously formed by atraverse, which can move horizontally on a frame and which is driven bya servomotor. In a preferred construction, the lifting drive for movingthe top part contains a drive shaft, which is mounted so that it canrotate in the bottom part and which can be rotated by a motor, witheccentric pins, which each engage in an elongated hole of the sidecheeks by means of a sliding piece. However, other suitable liftingdrives could also be provided.

In the bottom part and/or the top part, additional drives for theworkpiece machining can also be housed.

Additional details and advantages of the invention emerge from thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment with reference to thedrawing. Shown are:

FIG. 1, a device according to the invention for repeatedly machiningseveral workpieces arranged one next to the other in a schematic sideview,

FIG. 2, the device from FIG. 1 in a partially sectioned front view,

FIG. 3, a part of the device shown in FIG. 1 with a tool support in arear view, and

FIG. 4, an enlarged partial view of a side cheek guide.

The device shown schematically in a side and front view in FIGS. 1 and 2for repeatedly machining several workpieces 1 arranged one next to theother is designed, in particular, for the complete machining ofbar-shaped or tubular workpieces, e.g., for manufacturing belt and locktightener pipes, brake and fuel lines, fuel filler pipes, injectionlines, and the like. It contains a bottom part 2 and a top part 3, whichis constructed as a press slide and which is guided so that it can movebetween two side parts 4 and 5 of a frame 6 relative to the bottom part2 and which is movable vertically by a lifting drive 7.

As emerges from FIG. 2, the top part 3 constructed as a press slide isarranged so that it can move vertically by means of two side cheeks 8and 9 connected rigidly to this top part on the two side parts 4 and 5of the frame 6. In the shown embodiment, the two side parts 4 and 5 havea U-shaped cross section that can be seen in FIG. 4 with two legs 10 and11 projecting inwards. Between the two legs 10 and 11 of the side parts4 and 5, the side cheeks 8 and 9 are guided so that they can move bymeans of linear guides. The linear guides are made from guide rails 12and associated guide shoes 13, which are arranged on the side parts 4and 5 or the side cheeks 8 and 9. The side cheeks 8 and 9 extend acrossthe entire height of the two side parts 4 and 5 and are guided nearlyacross the entire length. In this way, an especially stable and exactguidance of the top part 3 is achieved.

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, the lifting drive 7 for moving the top part3 includes a horizontal drive shaft 14, which is mounted so that it canrotate in the bottom part 2 and which is driven by a motor and whichcontains eccentric pins 15 extending laterally at their two ends. Theseeccentric pins 15 each engage via a sliding piece 16 in an elongatedhole 17 of the corresponding side cheeks 8 and 9. Thus, by rotating thedrive shaft 14, the top part 3 is shifted by means of the side cheeks 8and 9 relative to the bottom part 2.

On the bottom part 2 and on the top part 3, several bottom and topworkpiece holders 18 and 19, respectively, are arranged one next to theother—shown only schematically in FIGS. 1 and 2—between which theworkpieces 1 are held and/or processed. Between the bottom part 2 andthe top part 3 there are several processing stations, which are arrangedone next to the other and in which the workpieces 1 are processed insuccessive steps. The transport of the workpieces 1 from one processingstation to the next is realized by a transfer rail 20, which is shown inFIG. 1 and which is provided with corresponding grippers 21.

The workpiece holders 18 and 19 can be easily exchanged by not-shownholding rails and locking pins. The lower workpiece holder 18 can beconstructed, e.g., as a hollow shape and the upper workpiece holder 19can be constructed as a counterpart to the hollow shape. They are usedfor deforming and/or fixing the workpiece 1 during the processing, butcan also include additional processing devices or tools, through whichthe workpieces 1 are processed either by means of the downwards movementof the top part 3 or by additional drives in the bottom part 2 and/orthe top part 3. Thus, additional drives 22 and 23, which are shown withdashed lines in FIG. 1 and through which punching, stamping,perforating, or other processing devices can be activated in the toolholders 18 and 19, can be housed in the top part 2 and in the bottompart 3.

On the back side of the frame 6, a tool support 24 shown in FIG. 1 ismounted for receiving axial tools 25 for the final processing ofworkpieces 1 and also an associated drive 26. The tool support 24contains a support plate 29, which is adjustable in height by means of atoothed rack 27 and a drive pinion 28 and which contains several toolreceptacles 30 arranged one next to the other and one below the otherfor the axial tools 25.

In FIG. 3 it can be seen that the support plate 29 is guided so that itcan move vertically between two lateral guide bars 31. It containsseveral openings 32, which are arranged one next to the other and oneabove the other and in which the tool receptacles 30 are arranged forthe axial tools 25. The lateral spacing of the openings 32 in each rowcorresponds to the spacing of the workpieces 1 in the processingstations arranged one next to the other, so that several workpieces 1can be processed on the back side. For each workpiece 1, there are alsoseveral tool receptacles 30 arranged one under the other for differentaxial tools 25. The support plate 29 can have a one-piece ormultiple-piece construction.

The drive 26 shown in FIG. 1 for the axial tools 25 arranged in thesupport plate 29 contains a traverse 34, which is guided so that it canmove horizontally on a frame 33 and which can be moved horizontally by aservomotor 35 by means of a drive belt 36 and two parallel drivespindles 37. In the traverse 34 there are horizontal receptacle openingslying one next to the other for activation elements 38 for activatingthe axial tools 25. The receptacle openings for the activation elements38 are arranged in such a way that these align with the tool receptacles30. The horizontal spacing of the receptacle openings is adapted to thelateral spacing of the openings 32 for the tool receptacles 30. Byshifting the traverse 34, the tools arranged in the support plate 29 canbe activated.

The additional drives 22 and 23 likewise shown in FIG. 1 include arocking lever 40, which can pivot about a rotational axis 39 and whichis in contact with one end with a tappet 41 and with the other end witha cam plate 42. The cam plate 42 provided with one or more cams isdriven by a motor 43 by means of a belt 44. By rotating the cam plate42, the tappet 41 can be moved in the axial direction and, e.g., apunching, stamping, or bending tool integrated in the tool holder can beactivated.

In the following, the function of the device described above will beexplained:

The feeding of the workpieces 1 to be machined can be realized from anot-shown parts bin, from the bar, or from a coil after having beenseparated. By means of the transfer rail 20, which is provided with thegripper 21 and through which extend lateral passages 45 and 46 shown inFIG. 2 in the side parts 4 or 5 and side cheeks 8 or 9, the workpieces 1are transported in sync from one processing station to the next.

After placement of the workpieces 1 on the lower workpiece holders 18,the top part 3 constructed as a press slide is moved downward with theupper workpiece holders 19 attached to this top part through rotation ofthe drive shaft 14. Here, just through the closing motion of the upperworkpiece holders 19, processing can take place, wherein the workpieces1 then must be fixed by means of a hold-down clamp guiding the upperworkpiece holders. The machining, however, can also be performed onlyafter the closing of the upper workpiece holders 19 by tools integratedin the workpiece holders. Theses tools are activated by the additionaldrives 22 and 23 arranged in the bottom part 2 and/or in the top part 3by means of the tappet 41 activating the tools. The movement of thetappet 41 is generated by means of the cam plate 42 and the rockinglever 40 driven by the motor 43. The cam plate 42 can include, on itsperiphery, several cams, which allow additional individual movement fordifferent processes.

The final processing of the workpieces 1 is realized by the axial tools25 arranged in the support plate 29. These tools can involve tools forstamping, enlarging, flattening, etc., but also tools for the productionof threads, for the mounting of nuts, for testing, or the like. Themovement for activating the axial tools 25 is generated by shifting thetraverse 34. The axial tools themselves are supported in the toolreceptacles 30 of the support plate 29.

If, with the aid of the traverse 34 an axial lift is realized, thetraverse 34 can be moved back and the support plate 29 can be shifted upor down into a next tool position. Thus, also without complicated toolexchange, successive work processes can be performed at one processingstation and/or simultaneously at different processing stations. Forshorter workpieces, a turning station can also be provided, throughwhich the workpieces are turned for processing at both ends. For longerworkpieces, two devices can be set opposite each other in such a waythat processing is possible at both ends.

When processing has ended, the workpieces 1 are first fixed with the aidof the gripper 21 attached to the transfer rail 20 before the top part 3is moved upward. After opening the top part 3, the workpieces 1 areremoved from the lower workpiece holder 18 by the gripper 21 arranged onthe transfer rail 20 and transported to the next processing station. Forsimpler processing, processing stations can also be skipped. Then a newprocessing cycle can begin.

By the device described above, complete processing from the coil up tothe complete workpiece can be performed, wherein, in addition to thefinal processing, other processing steps, such as, e.g., punching,stamping, bending, testing, and the like, are also possible. The deviceis extremely flexible and can be used universally.

1-14. (canceled)
 15. Device for repeatedly machining several workpieces(1) arranged one next to the other, in particular, bar-shaped or tubularworkpieces, with a bottom part (2) for supporting the workpieces (1), atop part (3) that can be moved by a motor relative to the bottom part(2) and a tool support (24) for receiving several tools, wherein thetool support (24) contains a support plate (29) that can be moved by amotor relative to the bottom part (2) with several tool receptacles (30)arranged one next to the other and one under the other for axial tools(25), and wherein a drive (26) for activating the axial tools (25) isallocated to the tool support (24), characterized in that the top part(3) is constructed for holding the workpieces on the bottom part (2) andis guided so that it can move by means of two side cheeks (8, 9)connected rigidly to this top part on two side parts (4, 5) of the frame(6) and is movable by a lifting drive (7).
 16. Device according to claim15, characterized in that the support plate (29) is guided so that itcan move vertically on a frame (6) and includes several rows of toolreceptacles (30) lying one above the other.
 17. Device according toclaim 15, characterized in that the side cheeks (8, 9) extendessentially across the entire height of the side parts (4, 5) and areguided nearly across their entire length.
 18. Device according to claim15, characterized in that the support plate (29) is made from a part orfrom individually driven segments.
 19. Device according to claim 15,characterized in that the spacing of the tool receptacles (30) arrangedone next to the other corresponds to the spacing of the workpieces (1)arranged on the bottom part (2).
 20. Device according to claim 15,characterized in that the drive (26) for activating the axial tools (25)includes a traverse (34), which is guided so that it can movehorizontally on a frame (33) and which is driven by a servomotor (35).21. Device according to claim 20, characterized in that the traverse(34) can be moved by the servomotor (35) by means of a drive belt (36)and two parallel drive spindles (37).
 22. Device according to claim 20,characterized in that receptacle openings lying one next to the other inthe traverse (34) are provided for activation elements (38) foractivating the axial tools (25).
 23. Device according to claims 15,characterized in that the lifting drive (7) includes a drive shaft (14),which is supported so that it can rotate in the bottom part (2) andwhich can be rotated by a motor, with eccentric pins (15) that eachengage in an elongated hole (17) of the side cheeks (8, 9) by means of asliding piece (16).
 24. Device according to claim 15, characterized inthat several top and bottom workpiece holders (18, 19) arranged one nextto the other are mounted on the bottom part (2) and the top part (3).25. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that additionaldrives (22, 23) for tool activation are arranged in the bottom part (2)and/or the top part (3).
 26. Device according to claim 25, characterizedin that the additional drives (22, 23) include a tappet (41), which canbe shifted in the axial direction and which can be activated by a camplate (42) that can be rotated by a motor by means of a rocking lever(40) that can pivot about a rotational axis (39).
 27. Device accordingto claim 1, characterized in that a transfer rail (20) provided withgrippers (21) is arranged between the bottom part (2) and the top part(3) for transporting the workpieces.